Indian hurdler Vithya Ramraj scripted a remarkable chapter in Indian athletics at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. Competing in the women’s 400m hurdles final, Ramraj clocked an impressive 54.75 seconds to win the bronze medal and break P.T. Usha’s 42-year-old national record of 55.42 seconds.
The performance marked a major improvement over the record Ramraj had previously equalled at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Her latest timing was 0.67 seconds faster than the earlier national mark.
P.T. Usha had established the 55.42-second record at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and it remained one of the longest-standing records in Indian athletics. Ramraj’s latest performance finally moved the national record below the historic 55-second barrier.
Ramraj’s bronze also added another medal to India’s athletics campaign at the Asian Games. Her achievement has drawn attention across the Indian sporting community, with P.T. Usha publicly congratulating the athlete after the record-breaking performance.
The bronze medal was also Ramraj’s second medal at the 2026 Asian Games, after being part of India’s silver-winning mixed 4x400m relay team. Her latest achievement adds another important milestone to her athletics career and places her name alongside one of the most enduring records in Indian track and field.
P.T. Usha also welcomed the record-breaking performance, describing the progress of the next generation of athletes as an important part of sporting legacy.
With the new mark standing at 54.75 seconds, Vithya Ramraj has now set a fresh benchmark for Indian women’s 400m hurdles. Her performance in Nagoya marks a significant moment in the continuing evolution of Indian athletics.
Speaking after the event, Ramraj said her focus was on achieving a strong timing rather than simply targeting a medal. Her approach paid off as she produced a personal best and rewrote the Indian national record.
Ramraj finished behind Mariam Kareem of the UAE, who won gold in 54.31 seconds, and Adelina Zems of Kazakhstan, who claimed silver in 54.58 seconds. Despite finishing third, Ramraj’s record-breaking timing became the major highlight of her race.
